It never makes no
one brisk but a horse to go without eatin', 'n' I must in consequence
say 't I was really very sorry as Rufus was dead durin' the last part of
the drive; but o' course he was a very superior man, 'n' as a
consequence nobody wanted to have it said in after life as they wa'n't
to his buryin'. So I went along with the rest, 'n' Heaven help me now,
for I never was more beat out in all my life. I was up awful early this
mornin' to be sure o' not bein' left, 'n' I may in confidence remark as
I 've thought many times to-day as if I had been left I 'd of been a
sight better off. Long rides is very frisky for them as is young 'n' in
love 'n' likes to drive alternate, but for a woman o' my age, bein'
wedged solid for sixteen miles at a time is most tryin'; 'n' comin' back
some o' them smart Meadville boys had the fine idea o' puttin' walnuts
under the seats, 'n' we rode most of the way thinkin' as they was our
bones till Mr. Dill jus' got up 'n' whopped his cushion over to see if
it 'd feel any different the other side, 'n' I may state as the results
I shall remember till I die."
"Who--" began Mrs. Lathrop.
"Everybody!" said Susan; "I never knowed how superior Rufus was till I
see how folks turned out for his funeral. Every minister 'n' doctor in
the whole vicinity was there. The Lumbs drove way up from Clightville,
got overturned in the brook by the old knife factory, but come along
just the same. Old Mr. 'n' Mrs. Trumbull started day before yesterday as
soon as they knowed he was dead 'n' ate with relations all the way along
'n' got them to come too whenever they could.
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